The Bells: Alexandra Schoeny and Marie-France Lefevbre present a recital of song cycles by Jonathan Dove, Libby Larsen, and Samuel Barber. Tolling bells punctuate texts by Shakespeare, the wives of Henry VIII, and medieval Irish monks, exploring joys and sorrows and events both mundane and cataclysmic.

With a voice hailed as “hauntingly beautiful” by Opera News, American soprano Alexandra Schoeny is swiftly gaining recognition on both sides of the Atlantic for her “crystal-clear voice.”

Alexandra Schoeny’s engagements in the 2017-18 season included further performances of Miss Lightfoot in Spears’ Fellow Travelers with New York’s Prototype Festival, Cunegonde in Candide in a co-production with Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Alliance Theatre, soloist in a New Year’s Eve concertwith the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, and performances of Carmina Burana with Cincinnati Ballet. In the 2018-19 season, Ms. Schoeny is soloist in Mozart's Requiem with the Reno Philharmonic. In the 2016-17 season, Ms. Schoeny was soloist in Brahm’s Requiem with Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra, First Lady in Die Zauberflöte with Cincinnati Opera, and Donna Anna in Don Giovanniwith Queen City Opera. Her engagements in the 2015-16 season included Miss Lightfoot in the world premiere of Spears’ Fellow Travelers with Cincinnati Opera; Mrs. Julian in Owen Wingravewith Städtische Bühnen Osnabrück; Messiah with Omaha Symphony Orchestra; Mozart’s Requiem with Collegium Cincinnati; Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 with Eugene Symphony; Arvo Pärt’s Stabat Mater with New European Ensemble; and Carmina Burana with Reno Philharmonic Orchestra and Temple University Symphony Orchestra at Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center.

Alexandra Schoeny’s recent oratorio appearances include Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem and Mozart’s Mass in C minor. She received a Master of Opera from the Koninklijk Conservatorium Den Haag; a Master of Music, (DipRAM) from the Royal Academy of Music, where she was awarded the Clifton Prize for Singing Finalists (finishing first in her class); and a Bachelor of Music from Northwestern University. She has appeared with the Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme, English National Opera OperaWorks, and Aspen Opera Theatre Center.

Marie-France Lefebvre works as a guest assistant conductor, pianist and prompter at The Metropolitan Opera and San Francisco Opera. She was a member of the full time Music Staff of the Washington National Opera from 1994-2004. She has also worked with Houston Grand Opera, Wolf Trap Opera, Santa Fe Opera and Seattle Opera. She was the program and music director for the 20th Century Opera and Song Interpretation Program at the Banff Centre for the Arts.

Prior to joining CCM in 2008, Marie-France served on the faculty of the Michigan State University School of Music (2004-2008) and, previously was a guest instructor at the University of Maryland. She worked as a guest French diction coach at The Curtis Institute of Music from 1999-2004.